About

Dr. Traci M. Lamar joined North Carolina State University as an Assistant Professor in Textile and Apparel Technology and Management in June 2000, following 12 years of university experience at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Southern Illinois University. She holds degrees from North Carolina State University, Arizona State University, and Kansas State University. Her doctoral work at NC State, completed in May 1999, was supported by national scholarships including the ITAA Western Region Scholarship and the ITAA Bobbin Feather Fellowship. Dr. Lamar's research focuses on the textile product design and development process, emphasizing the application of technology, virtual design, and managing innovation within a demand-driven business environment. She teaches courses related to textile products design, development, and production management, and has presented extensively on teaching and research topics. Her interests include the interface of textile design and technology, the impact of digital tools on product creation, and the integration of consumer input into design processes. She is actively involved in professional organizations such as the Computer Integrated Textile Design Association and the International Textile and Apparel Association, where she serves as Chair of the Ad-Hoc Mentoring Committee.

Research topics

• Engineering drawing
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Human–computer interaction
• Composite material
• Multimedia
• Operations management
• Materials science
• Art
• Optics
• Mechanical engineering
• Visual arts

Selected publications

• Incorporating Universal Design: Evaluating Its Role in Textile Design Education for Accessible Home Textiles

  International Journal of Art & Design Education · 2025-03-12 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Universal design (UD) is a design philosophy that offers effective concepts and tools to help designers develop accessible products, services, and environments. Despite the growing need for inclusive design strategies, UD is not typically integrated into design education, particularly textile design. Textile design is associated with the process of utilising aesthetic and technical elements to develop fabrics but is rarely seen as a contributor to solutions in the realm of inclusivity. This study explores students' understanding of accessibility in the context of textile design and the impact of integrating UD into a textile design project. Thirty‐one Bachelor of Science students majoring in textile design participated in a one‐day workshop on UD and completed a project focused on applying the principles of UD to a home textile collection. Student mind maps and design projects were examined to assess their understanding of how textiles and accessibility intersect as well as the application of UD principles to design projects. Results show that students leveraged design elements in textiles, such as colour and texture, as communication tools, therapeutic interventions, and elements that contribute to the function and safety of a space. However, the low use of certain principles in the UD framework demonstrates that further examination on the application of UD to textile design is also merited. It is possible that modifications to the UD framework may be located to increase applicability to the field of textiles and textile design education.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Batik

  2023-01-01

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Batik

  2022-01-01

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• The Impact of Emergency Remote Learning on a Studio Curriculum Analyzed via Case Studies

  Journal of Textile Design Research and Practice · 2022-09-02 · 1 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  This paper examines the impact of emergency remote learning on a studio-based curriculum via case studies of three woven design courses within a comprehensive textile design curriculum. The pedagogy of the textile design studio is characterized by a physical space with appropriate resources for the techniques to be taught, learning through extended practice in that space, collaboration with peers and experts, and critique. Moving a course out of the physical studio space and into the remote learning environment makes the implementation of traditional studio practice and proven teaching methods unattainable, creating extensive challenges. However, the necessity of transitioning studio courses to emergency remote learning also led to innovations in teaching practice and new approaches to achieving learning outcomes. Using case studies the authors analyze the advantages and limitations associated with the transition to remote learning within the framework provided by Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. Through the analysis, the authors bridge in-person and online experiences to identify key components of studio learning in a woven design curriculum. The role of the physical studio environment in helping students progress from understanding basic concepts to creating innovative design solutions is discussed. Due to the commonality of studio-based instruction across textile and apparel design curricula, results of this analysis have application to a range of fashion and textile design disciplines.

  PublisherDOI

• The effects of CO₂ laser treatment on a digital velvet printing

  Journal of the Textile Institute · 2021 · 2 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Materials science
  • Optics
  • Engineering drawing

  This research combines two digital technologies for customizing textile substrates: carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment and digital textile printing. The objective is to determine if creating pile height variation by laser engraving cotton velvet fabric prior to digital inkjet printing can impact the resulting color. Color yield depends on the surface in contact with the dye, a pile fabric (cotton velvet) was selected for this investigation. To develop samples, laser engraving was conducted to create pile height variance before printing using a CO2 laser machine, and laser intensity was controlled by adjusting the grayscale of patterns to modify pile height and surface contour of velvet. After laser treatment, seven-colored stripes were printed with a reactive dye ink printer. The reflectance values of printed color were measured by using a spectrophotometer. Pile height variation was demonstrated to cause a measurable effect on color results in inkjet printing using instrumental measures.

  PublisherDOI

• A framework for incorporating virtual fitting into the costume design and production process

  International Journal of Fashion Design Technology and Education · 2020 · 11 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science
  • Human–computer interaction

  The process of designing and making costumes for the performing arts is highly collaborative, involving costume designers, directors, costume makers, and performers. Communication across the costume design and production process requires that these participants interact with both 2D and 3D representations of costumes in the forms of design drawings, muslin drapes, and prototypes. This qualitative investigation examined integrating three dimensional (3D) apparel simulation into costume design and production to enhance communication. Data were collected in two concurrent phases, (a) interviews with experts (n = 7) and (b) virtual fittings with costume designers (n = 5) and makers (n = 5). A preliminary framework was developed through analysis of expert interview responses. Then, insights from the virtual fittings were integrated to establish the final Costume Design and Production Process Framework (CDPPF). Results clarify opportunities for simulation and virtual fitting in the costume development process and highlight the importance of training and simulation accuracy to successful implementation.

  PublisherDOI

• Digital Textile Printing with Laser Engraving: Surface Contour Modification and Color Properties

  2019-01-01 · 1 citations

  reportOpen access

  This research combines two digital technologies for customizing textile substrates: carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment and digital textile printing. They are highly versatile surface design technologies that provide great detail, enhance design flexibility, and meet the growing consumer demand for novelty and variety in apparel and textile designs. One of the most important aesthetic effects of combining those technologies is the potential to influence the color properties of digitally printed textile materials by laser treating the material surface before printing. The objective of this research is to determine if creating pile height variation by laser engraving cotton velvet fabric prior to digital inkjet printing can impact the resulting color. Because color yield depends on the surface in contact with the dye, a pile fabric (cotton velvet) was selected for this investigation. To develop samples, laser engraving was conducted to create pile height variance before printing using a 40W CO2 laser machine. The laser settings were held constant with 100% speed, 55% power and 400 dots per inch resolution. Laser intensity was controlled by using 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% grayscale patterns to modify pile height and surface contour of velvet. Higher intensities remove more of the surface pile. After laser treatment, seven solid cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, and blue colored stripes were printed with a reactive dye ink printer. After sample development, the color properties of the fabrics were measured by using a spectrophotometer with D65 daylight and 10° standard observer. Reflectance curves, C*, ΔEcmc, K/S values were obtained and interpreted to compare color consistency depending on pile height variation. According to the results, pile height variation was demonstrated to cause a measurable effect on color results in inkjet printing using instrumental measures.

  PublisherDOI

• Laser Finishing of Textile Materials: Developments at ITMA 2019

  Journal of textile and apparel technology and management · 2019-10-29

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  This paper focuses on developments in laser systems designed for textile and product finishing and embellishment that were shown at ITMA 2019. Though lasers for finishing also commonly have cutting capability, they excel in rapid and flexible distressing and embellishing offering fast and precise engraving and marking effects. At ITMA 2019, most laser finishing system concepts introduced focused on design capability, productivity and a systems approach to sustainability, particularly in denim processing. Lasers also have the capacity to produce an extensive range of finishing effects that would otherwise require the application of multiple chemical and mechanical finishing processes using several different pieces of equipment, making them versatile as well as eco-friendly.

  Publisher

• Teaching Critical Color Concepts through an Online Learning Module

  2017-01-01

  reportOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  An online teaching module for a sophomore level course titled Computer Aided Textile Design and Color Studio was developed. Students who take the course are studying Textile Design or Fashion Design, though the teaching module is much more broadly applicable to any area of fashion and textiles. In the course, students build on a fundamental understanding of color theory from their first-year studios to learn about using color in designing textiles

  PublisherDOI

• Examining the effectiveness of virtual fitting with 3D garment simulation

  International Journal of Fashion Design Technology and Education · 2016-11-07 · 39 citations

  articleSenior author

  In this paper, we report how the interactive process of garment fitting, as a component of the apparel development process, was impacted by the use of virtual fittings in place of live fittings. We created 3D garment simulations using five existing garment patterns, then conducted virtual fittings with the maker and the designer of each garment. Participants viewed the virtual fittings via WebEx. They responded to questions about fit and design details, and about the experience of participating in a virtual fitting. They had opportunities to suggest alterations and to see alternate style line markings on the virtual garments. Responses showed that elements inherent to both preparation and execution of a virtual fitting impacted the collaborative experience.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Anne Porterfield

  North Carolina State University

  6 shared

• Uikyung Jung

  University of Central Oklahoma

  4 shared

• Jihyun Bae

  Kwangwoon University

  2 shared

• Pradeep Pandurangan

  North Carolina State University

  2 shared

• Narahari Kenkare

  North Carolina State University

  2 shared

• Jeffrey W. Eischen

  North Carolina State University

  2 shared

• Kate Nartker

  1 shared

• Janie Woodbridge

  1 shared

Education

• Ph.D.

  The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

• M.S.

  Southern Illinois University

• B.S.

  North Carolina State University

Awards & honors

• The International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) Wes…
• ITAA Bobbin Feather Fellowship